Local acts make big noise at Country Thunder
By THOMAS BOND
Get Out
April 24, 2003

Breaks come in all forms, but for local artists, the chance to perform on the main stage at Country Thunder is a huge one.

It's the biggest country festival in Arizona, so I'm really happy to be able to do it, says 15-year-old Tempe singer/ songwriter Rickiejoleen. It's awesome.

She'll hit the stage with the Elvin Del Rey Band at 1 p.m. Friday. Oddly, there's no Elvin Del Rey in the group.

I don't know where the guys got that name, Rickiejoleen says, laughing. They came up with it, and when I met them, that was their name.

Rickiejoleen, who is home-schooled, may be young, but she's a seasoned musician. She's been collaborating with Scott Johnson of the Gin Blossoms for half of her life.

I've been writing with him since I was 8 years old, she says. I've been around the business for a very long time.

Rickiejoleen will release an EP of songs on Friday and is working toward her first full-length recording.

I'm collaborating with Scott and some of the members of Mogollon to get songs together for a full album, she says.

It's all part of her plan to make music her life.

My goal is to tour around the world, Rickiejoleen says. I love performing in front of people.

Rhonda Towns of Chandler shares that passion and hits the main stage at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. She may be on the verge of a Nashville record deal as she recently recorded two songs with Harold Shedd that are being shopped around Music City. Shedd was the president of Mercury Records when the label signed Shania Twain and Toby Keith.

I'm hanging in there and just plugging away at it, Towns says of her goal to become a national recording artist.

She also models for Dillard's, appeared at an international country music festival in Switzerland and recently debuted on Black Entertainment Television. As a black woman, she's well aware that any success she achieves would be a first in country music.

I don't like to make it a racial thing, and I come from a mixed family, but that's my cross to bear, and I know I'm a pioneer, Towns says. I've got to prove myself a little bit more, but once my music is put in front of the general public, I know that they'll accept it with open arms.

Other local acts performing on Country Thunder's main stage

Second Shift, 3 p.m. Thursday This group is made up entirely of Salt River Project employees. The musicians formed the band initially to perform at a company picnic but soon realized they enjoyed their second shift job and have stuck together ever since.

Lannie Mark Band, noon Friday Named for lead singer and rhythm guitarist Lannie Mark, the Lannie Mark Band has been performing in the Valley for several years. Mark is a native of Buckeye.

Harry Luge, 3:30 p.m. Friday
A Country Thunder veteran, Luge will be performing at the festival for the seventh consecutive year. Along with his slot on the main stage, Luge headlines the Slippery Nickel Saloon stage Friday through Sunday.

J. Michael Harter, 5 p.m. Friday
Tempe's J. Michael Harter moved to Nashville a few years ago and came back with his first national record deal. He released his debut disc, Unexpected Change, last year and supported Sawyer Brown on tour.

Tim & Willy and the All Earl Band, 11:30 a.m. Saturday
Popular KNIX (102.5 FM) disc jockeys Tim Hattrick and Willy D. Loon perform regularly around town with their All Earl Band. The duo have earned numerous national awards and, in addition to their Valley radio program, have a syndicated show in several other markets around the country.

Mogollon, 12:30 p.m. Sunday
Named for the Mogollon Rim in Northern Arizona where the band formed, Mogollon have been based in the East Valley for several years now. They are one of the longest-running and popular local country acts in the state.

Main stage lineup
Thursday
2 p.m. Dusty Drake
3 p.m. The Second Shift Band
4:30 p.m. Clark
6 p.m. The Doo-Wah Riders
7:30 p.m. Terri Clark
9 p.m. John Michael Montgomery

Friday
Noon Lanny Mark Band
1 p.m. Rickiejoleen and the Elvin Del Ray Band
2 p.m. The Marshall Star Band
3:30 p.m. Harry Luge
5 p.m. J. Michael Harter
6:30 p.m. Joe Nichols
8:30 p.m. Jo Dee Messina
10:30 p.m. Alan Jackson

Saturday
11:30 a.m. Tim & Willy and the All Earl Band
12:30 p.m. Rhonda Towns
1:30 p.m. Boomer McLennan
3 p.m. Johnny Rivers
4:30 p.m. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
6:30 p.m. Creedence Clearwater Revisited
8:30 p.m. Chris LeDoux
10:30 p.m. Sawyer Brown

Sunday
11:30 a.m. Jessi James
12:30 p.m. Mogollon
1:30 p.m. Ricky Lee Phelps
3 p.m. Pat Green
4:30 p.m. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
6 p.m. Collin Raye
7:30 p.m. Neal McCoy
9 p.m. Lonestar

Slippery Nickel Saloon stage
Thursday
8 p.m. to midnight Tequila Moon

Friday
3 to 7:30 p.m. Marshall Star
7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Harry Luge

Saturday
3 to 7:30 p.m. Jessi James
8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Harry Luge

Sunday
3 to 7 p.m. Marshall Star
8 p.m. to midnight Harry Luge

All acts and times are subject to change.

Country Thunder USA

Where: Canyon Moon Ranch, 20585 Price Road, Florence
When: 4 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. Friday through Sunday
How much: Tickets range from $39 for a one-day general admission pass to $500 for a four-day VIP pass
Info: , www.countrythunder.com

Contact writer Thomas Bond at or